Islamic State

The Islamic State (2014-) is a nation located in parts of Iraq and Syria. Declared a caliphate on June 29, 2014, the Islamic State was created by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi became the first Caliph.

History
In June 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria launched an offensive in northern Iraq that overran much of the country; the movement gained support from most Sunnis in the country due to the primarily-Shia government. The ISIS organization was led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who alienated even the Al-Qaeda terrorist network with his viciousness against Shiites and non-Muslims.

On 29 June, having reached within 100 miles of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, al-Baghdadi declared himself the Caliph of the "Islamic State", and called on Al-Qaeda and other Islamic militias to pledge allegiance to him. His self-declaration as Caliph was controversial, as the last caliph died in 1923, ruling the Ottoman Empire.